Relieving Stress Jolene Navarro Inspy Romance
Hola, Jolene Navarro checking in from the Texas Hill Country. My latest book is out in the wild. The heroine, Belle De La Rosa, is a busy single mother that is working hard to hold the family ranch together. She also volunteers to help her community. Like many of us, she has responsibilities that pull her in a ton of directions. It’s important that she has ways to reduce the stress of life. She rides horses along the beach but the thing that gives her the greatest joy is baking and cooking.
At the core of all these activities and hobbies is God. It’s taking the time to listen to him and share your thoughts. Some call it devotionals or prayers.
The Texan’s Promise and Sea Turtles Jolene Navarro
I have several go-to that I love: Reading, Yoga, Writing, Photography, Hiking and water – anything with water. Give me a balcony at the beach, river or lake where I can write, read, listen to music, do yoga and take pictures. Later I’ll go for a walk with my husband or family and friends. That is my perfect vacation.
I went on a hunt to see if these are things that science says are destressers. Through a few articles, I found five activists on all the list. I was happy to find I do most of them. There were four others I found interesting, but they were a hit and miss on the different list. One of those is the one my heroine uses the most, cooking and baking. A few others mentioned that I love were listening to music, writing, and gardening.
I love and practice four out of the top five.
#1 READING.
If you are here then this is one you do. Findings by the University of Sussex show that reading a newspaper or book works better and faster than listening to music, going for a walk or sitting down with a cup of tea to calm frazzled nerves. So pick up a book and read it! They have discovered that listening to audio does the same for the brain as reading.
Reading reduces stress – Jolene Navarro
#2 DANCING
The next three are forms of movement. Our body and brains are created to move and to maintain balance we need it, so you should find a fun way to do it. Anxiety and Depression Association of America cites studies that find physical activity is effective at improving alertness and concentration. Moving improves overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress taken joy from life. You can dance alone in your house or with friends and family. Turn on that favorite song and just live in the moment of the rhythm.
My sister and son dancing. Jolene Navarro
Dancing with my sweetheart to reduce stress. Jolene Navarro
Dancing brings Joy with big brother and little sister- Jolene Navarro
#3 YOGA
Over and over again we find that yoga has so many benefits. Mental health is strongly linked to physical health. It forces you to sit still and be in the moment. It is the most powerful for me when I combine it with devotional time and prayers. I love yoga but this is the one I struggle with the most to make the time for. My sister is a yoga instructor and there are modifications to make it work for everyone.
Yoga and Meditation with Tracye Ward
Yoga with Tracye and Katrina
Yoga with sisters. Jolene Navarro
#4 HIKING
This is my favorite. It has been the one thing that helps me keep my numbers (PB, Sugar, Cholesterol, and weight) under control. I still struggle with weight, but it’s better than before. Walking through nature settles me in ways that nothing else does. Thoreau extolled a few thousand times the virtues of walking in the wilds of nature. Since then psychologists have done the research to prove him right. Yes, interacting with nature has shown to reduce your stress from a busy, technology-rich world.
Hiking to reduce stress Jolene Navarro
Texas paths. Hiking reduces stress. Jolene Navarro
#5 KNITTING
This is the one I have not done, but I imagine many of you do. My mother did and one of my good friends also knits. So does something else too that brings balance and feel-good hormones. She makes little blankets for kittens in shelters. It’s an organization called Comfort for Critters. Not only is it calming but she gets to plot and solve story problems. You might have read some of her books or seen Hallmark movies linked to her books. Maybe you watch a favorite movie on the Hallmark channel to unwind.
Kitty Blanket by Teri Wilson for Comfort for Critters
What are your favorite go-to when you need to slow down and find balance? If it’s reading you should try my lastest book. It’s the third in the Cowboys of Diomandback Ranch series.
The Texan’s Promise by Jolene Navarro
Jolene’s life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, and all of life's wonderful messiness. She knows that, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that holding hands and dancing in the rain never gets old. She loves creating stories of love and faith in her much loved Texas.
I like to walk and I like to knit. Both relax me.
I prefer reading, walking and listening to music and just adore riding on ferries, nothing relaxes me more.
Hi Jolene! Reading, walking – especially along the beach in SW Michigan, and cooking relaxes me. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes.
I like to read, listen to music, go walking, or take a nice, warm bath.
Reading is by far one of my favorite de-stressers!
I have also found lately when i write for enjoyment, the stress of writing for a living can be erased. I forget about needy clients, deadlines, or where the next job will be.
Are you ready for it? I also love math. Sometimes just calculating budgets, lists of numbers, or goals for a vacation can take the stress away as well.
So yes, the 3 R’s are my top 3 ways to unwind.
Reading, Riting, Rithmetic!!!
Definitely reading and sometimes taking the kids to the park.
My top three destressors are walking, reading, and doing nearly anything in nature. I got a new kayak last fall and hubby’s new one will be arriving by the end of March. We are looking forward to exploring a lot of our nearby mountain lakes this summer!
My favorite way to relax is reading, followed by making cards, a hot bath, a massage, and walking.
Rithmetic! My man!
So many good possibilities! I like reading and puzzle solving of nearly all kinds. Computer games, crosswords, cryptograms, math problems and plotting a story LOL!
Hello I relieve stress by praying while reading the bible, it helps to calm me when I spent time giving Almighty God praises,after doing this I relax with a novel of my choice while eating some crackers and cheese and this does a lot to my entire being as we all know stress can kill.
Todd—Ha–your comment caused me stress. :) JK, but that’s interesting about the math being a destresser. I love that that works for you.
Reading and hiking/running are my number 1 stress relievers. They both take me to happy places—oh, and a hot, hot bubble bath. The best!!! Great topic.
Reading has always been a great constant companion in times of stress.
Hiking, walking, playing tennis, reading, or dancing for me.
Besides reading; I enjoy relaxing music; quiet bicycle rides through rural, wooded, hilly areas dotted with streams, ponds, lakes and waterfalls; scuba diving; occasionally yoga; and target shooting. 😁
Walking on the beach, taking pics of the beauty!
Reading is definitely my go to for relieving stress!
I don’t read as much now but it use to be a good way to unwind. Walking was good til it wasn’t! in saying that I have an Achilles injury which is not wanting to heal. It makes walking painful. I do ride a bike at times which is good. I play a few games on the computer which is also fun. Gardening is also good but can’t do a lot at one time.
I use to do cross stitch and do scrapbooking and am going to try a diamond art picture which is meant to be relaxing too.
A big destressor (and also stressor) my two cats. They can be so comforting but they can also be interesting and cause stress at times.
Definitely reading!
I would say reading and ocean!
I love ocean, so laying on the beach with a great story is ideal stress relief!
Things I like that help reduce stress are:
1. Talking to my mom
2. Relaxing and reading
3. Spending time with my cats
4. Watching basketball
5. Watching a feel good movie/t.v. show
I obviously read. I also attend a yoga/exercise class a couple times a week. Every year our family gets together in Gatlinburg for a week and I love hiking in the Smoky Mountains. (I will admit to hugging trees, too!)
Hi, Jolene!
Awesome post! Reading and watching movies/TV shows are my go to stress relievers, but I also love to knit! Thank you so much for the Comfort for Critters website link, I had not heard of this organization before and after checking out their website I’m excited to get involved with knitting blankets for them! 😀